On April 13, 2024, the container ship MSC Aries was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz, 50 nautical miles northeast of the Fujairah. The MSC Aries' last AIS signal was around 1700 GMT, according to open source reporting. The seizure was carried out by Iranian forces, who boarded the Portuguese-flagged, British-owned ship using a helicopter. Iran claimed the vessel was "linked to Israel" as the justification for the seizure. A subsequent report revealed that the vessel, a cargo ship flying the Madeira flag, has changed its course North into Iranian territorial waters.
Analysis: The 15,000 TEU vessel is owned by Gortal Shipping, a finance company associated with Zodiac Maritime, which is controlled by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The 25 crew members of the MSC Aries, who are from India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Russia and Estonia, are now being held captive by Iran. All communication with the vessel has been lost.
The seizure of the MSC Aries comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guards. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. The US and UK have strongly condemned the incident, calling it a "blatant violation of international law" and an act of "piracy" by Iran. The International Chamber of Shipping also condemned the seizure as a "flagrant breach of international law and an assault on freedom of navigation."
The incident threatens to further disrupt shipping in the region, which has already faced over six months of attacks from Houthi militia in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. There are concerns that the conflict could spread, impacting critical trade routes and supply chains.
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